One of our saddest jobs at SoulTracks is to inform SoulTrackers about the deaths of soul music artists.
We feel it is part of our mission to pay tribute to the legacies of these all time greats. On this page we provide a running list of those artists who have died during 2026, and a link to our extensive tributes to them. They are shown in the order of the date we reported on their deaths during the year.
Rest in peace, friends.
Richard Smallwood (Gospel legend)
Josie Falbo (Chicago singer)
John Forte (Grammy nominated musician)
Bryan Loren (singer, songwriter and producer)
Sly Dunbar of Sly & Robbie
Carlos Ward of BT Express
Demond Wilson of Sanford & Son
Billy Bass Nelson of Funkadelic
Steve Washington of Aurra and Slave
LaMonte McLemore of The Fifth Dimension
Garland Green (singer)
Bobby “Bzo” Cavaness (musician and producer)
Willie Colón (salsa music legend)
Genna Sapia-Ruffin (ex-wife and biographer of David Ruffin)
Neil Sedaka (singer and songwriter)
Cicero Blake (singer)
Walt Maddox of The Marcels
James Gadson (legendary drummer)
Fred Simon of The Lost Generation
Conley Abrams III (producer and engineer)
Barbara Carr (singer)
Nedra Talley-Ross (fka Nedra Talley of The Ronettes)
Warren Tipton of The Chi-Lites
Clarence Carter (singer)
EarlJean McCrea Reavis of The Cookies
Jimmy Hughes (singer)
Rob Base (hip hop legend)
Ronald LaPread of The Commodores
Foster Sylvers (singer)
Dexter Wansel (artist, songwriter and producer)
Peabo Bryson (singer)
James Anthony Carmichael (famed producer)
Fred Alexander of Lakeside
Toney Lee (singer)
Walter Parazaider of Chicago
Clive Davis (record executive)
David Clayton-Thomas of Blood, Sweat & Tears
Victor Willis of The Village People
Brian Potter (songwriter and producer)
Rodney Franklin (jazz and R&B musician)
Bonnie Tyler (singer)
Jim Gilstrap (singer)
John Jammin Collins (DJ)
Arlene Smith of The Chantels
Marvelous Marv Taylor (radio personality)
